Apparatus for washing and cleaning test-tubes, bottles, and like vessels



L1. EDWARDS.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND CLEANING TEST TUBES, BOTTLES, AND LIKEVESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25.1919.

1,332,033 Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

imam J7 ,I l'NITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES'THOM'A'S E WARDS, or Lenten, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR wAsHme AND oLnAnmerEsfr-rusns,norrnns, Am) LIKE vn ssnns.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs THoMAs E1)- wAnDs, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at 8 North Villas, Camden Square,London, N. WV. 1, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement inApparatus for WVashing' and Cleaning'Test-Tubes,Bottles,'and likeVessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improve ments in apparatus for washingand cleaning test tubes, bottles and like vessels-and it consists inimproved apparatus of the type in which a brush or the like adapted tobe inserted into the vessel to be cleaned is mounted on a spindle whichis rotated by a liquid-actuated rotor and the same liquid that drivesthe rotor is utilized as the washing liquid'which is introduced into thevessel to be cleaned.

One object of the invention is to. provide a simple and compactapparatus of the kind in question adapted to be readily fitted over anordinary sink or the like and in which the liquid employed for drivingthe rotor is utilized in the best possible manner for washing out thetest tube,bottle or like vessel by being introduced into the vessel ator near its closed end through a tubular brush so that the current ofliquid carries away directly the matter that is detached from the wallof the vessel by the brush, the whole of the liquid employed passingthrough the brush and being thus fully utilized in the washingoperation. Further objects are, to construct the apparatus so that aminimum of power is requlred to rotate the brush; and to provide ashield for preventing splashing of the liquid overflowmg from the testtube or the like, which shield extends beyond the brush but permits ofready access to the brush and of employing brushes of different lengths.

My invention comprises broadly the combination with a liquid actuatedrotor of a casing in the upper part of which the said rotor is mountedand in the lower part of which the liquid collects after it has actedupon the rotor, a hollow spindle to which rotary motion is imparted bythe rotor and which passes vertically-through the bottom of the casingand is slotted or perforated I within the casing to admit the liquid. inthe casing into its bore, and a tubular brush which is carried by thesaid spindle below Specification Dimmer ram. Pate te b: 24 192i plication filed September 25, 1919. Serial as; 326,894]

The shield which I provide is a'telescopic V shield that surrounds thebrush and is 1 adapted to be readily collapsed.

For cleaning test tubes I preferably employ; a brush provided with acush'ionihgde vice at its'lower end," but the cushioning-dc viceindicated in the'drawinghereinafter" referredto forms part of thesubject matter of a separate concurrent application Serial No. 326,375relating to improvements in brushes and is not described herein.

A head'of liquid may be maintainedin the casing by making the crosssection of the inlet to the hollow spindle slightly less than would berequired to carry off the liquid as it collects in the casing, and byadjusting the tap which controls the supply; and, ifit be deslred toobviate any'waste of'the liquid when the apparatus is only being used 00casionally, a valve may be provided on the hollow spindle to shutoff theoutflow on the completion of a washing operation.

A feature of my apparatus which distinguishes it clearly from all theknown apparatus of the type in question is that my a'pparatus isdesigned and adapted toutilize the whole of the liquid twice -firstfordriv- .ing the rotor and then for washing out the test tube, bottle orlike vessel-in' such a manner that the rotor meets with no resistancefrom the liquid after it has imparted its m's visa to the said rotor,and the liquid flows in a continuous current from the closed end of thevessel to its open mouth, thus washing out the vessel thoroughly.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which: AFigure 1 shows the complete apparatus as designed more particularly foruse in laborae tories and hospitals for cleaning test tubes,

the casing and shield being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the linew.z of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4'is a section on the line IV.IV of Fig. 1. 7

Referring to the drawing: a is a cylindrical casing within which avane-wheel b is carried on a vertical spindle c suspended rotatably onball bearings d and passing through a gland e in the bottom ofthecasing. The vane-wheel b isrotated by a jet of liquid under pressureirnpingin tangentially upon the vanes of thewhee through a nozzle thatprojects the liquid into the casing, and the spindle 0 carries at itslower end a tubular brush 9 adapted to enter the vessel to be cleaned,the said-spindle being enables the shield to be pushed up when it I isdesired to fit, or to observe the action-:of, a new brush.

The liquid enters the testtube or the like through the slots j formed inthe end of the brush core, and if there is a head of liquid in thecasing a the current of liquid exerts a certain reaction upon the brush,tending to raise it. This reaction, in conjunction with the slightpressure exerted .in holding a test tube up to the brush, relieves thepressure on the ball bearings cl so that the vanewheel and its spindlepractically fioat and require very little power to rotate them. 1

Any suitable form of brush with a tubular core maybe employed, theabrading means being ordinary bristles, wire bristles, chains or thelike carried by the said core. The cushioning device is shown on the endof the brush has already been referred to. The

preferred arrangementv for securing the brush to the hollow spindle cis'to adapt its core to be screwed into a socket on the e'nd of thespindle.

' What I claim asimy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ising in combination a liquid-actuated rotor,

a casing in the upper part of which the said rotor is mounted and in thelower part of s V 1. Apparatus for washing and cleaning" te t tubes,bottles and like'vessels, compriswhich the liquid collects after-ithaszacted- 1 upon the rotor, a hollow spindle to which' rotary motion isimparted by the rotor and I which passes vertically through the bottomof the casing and in the portion of which within the casing radialapertures are formed to admit the liquid in the easing into its bore,and a tubular brush which is carried by the said spindle below thecasing and the bore of which communicates with the bore of the spindleand from the free end o'fwhich the liquid escapes into the vessel to becleaned.

2. Apparatus for washing and cleaning testtubcs, bottles and likevessels, compris-v the said vane-wheel is mounted and in the lower partof which the liquid collects after it has acted upon the saidvane-wheel, a hollow spindle on which the said vane-wheel is mounted andwhich passes yertically through the bottom of the said casing and in theportion of which between the vane 7 t i I ing in combination a vanewheeladapted to; be rotated by a Jet of liquid impinging upon I its vanes, acasing 1n the upper part of which wheel and the bottom of the casingradial" apertures are formed to admit the liquid in the casing into itsbore, and a tubular brush. carried by the said hollow spindle below thev said casing the bore of which brush communicates with the bore of thespindle and, conducts the liquid .to the freecnd of the brush.

JAMES THOMAS EDWARDS.

